Any Legume Tofu (Zero Waste) - Hermann (2024)

Any Legume Tofu (Zero Waste)

Sure, you can use the pulp to thicken stews and soups or mix it into breads like this Sourdough Rye. But really, I was hopeful for a method that would avoid the pulp altogether so that the legumes retain all of their nutritional benefits. After some testing, I was finally able to tweak the recipe to a point where it doesn’t involve any straining at all. Plus, this is also an easy way to flavour the tofu in any way you like, for instance with ginger, chilli and turmeric as I’ve done here.

What is Legume Tofu?

If you are new to this type of tofu, let me rewind a little bit. This is not the traditional type of Chinese tofu, which is made by curdling soy milk and pressing the curds into a firm block. Instead, it is similar to Burmese tofu, a common dish from the Shan minority in Burma (Myanmar) that is traditionally made with flour from split yellow lentils or chickpeas.

With Burmese tofu, the liquid is heated until it begins to coagulate and is then left to set into a soft block. Because of the difference in texture, you can’t use Burmese tofu as a substitute for firm soybean tofu, as it is rather delicate and might not withstand much stir frying or longer cooking times in liquids. I prefer cutting it into cubes and shallow frying them with a bit of salt until golden brown on each side. They can then be coated in your favourite sauce or spices and used to top off dishes or served as a side.

Although Burmese tofu is commonly made with chickpea flour, you can, in essence, use any dried legume and apply the same method by soaking and blending them.

IMPORTANT: Some raw legumes, especially certain beans, are not safe to consume, because they contain natural toxins as a defence mechanism against wild predators. For most beans, the cooking time in this recipe is NOT enough to break down the toxins. So far, I tested the method in this recipe with chickpeas, red lentils, green peas and olive green lentils, so ideally stick to any of those to be on the safe side. If you’d like to use beans, I’d recommend either adding more water and cooking the paste for at least 20 minutes or following THIS recipe and strain the beans to remove any larger particles that might not cook in time. Always make sure that your tofu has set properly, otherwise, start over instead of eating it anyway.

Why does it work?

Most legumes are high in protein (around 20%). By extracting and heating them, you can change the protein bonds, causing them to firm up. Most of us have already experienced this process before when boiling an egg, turning the white from translucent to firm. Although this works with any dried legume, it’s slightly different with soybeans, which are even higher in protein (around 40%) and therefore begin to curdle when heated in the form of soy milk like in this recipe.

One of my favourite ways to use Burmese tofu is to be inspired by other cultures who have long adapted the use of chickpea flour into creations like Panisse or panelle.

makes 200g

Ingredients

• 100g dried legumes* (chickpeas, lentils or peas)

• 250ml water

*if you’re using a different type of legume than recommended, please read the ‘IMPORTANT’ note in the description.

Method

Soak the legumes in plenty of water overnight or for at least 8 hours.

The next day, drain the legumes and add them to the jug of a high-speed blender (I use my Vitamix E310) together with 250 ml of water. Then blend for 1 minute on high speed until smooth.

Pour the mixture into a non-stick frying pan and stir in 1/2 tsp of salt. Bring it to a simmer, then reduce the heat and cook it for 2 to 5 minutes, stirring it constantly with a spatula. The starches will sink to the bottom and stick, so you must keep stirring to avoid it from burning. Continue cooking until it has formed into a thick paste that doesn’t level out in the pan anymore and holds on to the spatula. If it’s still runny, just cook it a little longer. Once ready, transfer the mixture to a mould and let it set for an hour (ideally in the fridge) before using.

Storage: Keep refrigerated for 2-3 days.